Big Bird confused by new autistic character on Sesame Street

Sesame Street introduced an autistic character named Julia

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Big Bird is confused by Julia, the new autistic character on Sesame Street in a new episode.

He is confused as to why she won't look at him when he first speaks to her, and deflated when she refuses to give him a high-five.

However, when he gets used to her unusual behaviour, they manage to make friends.

Julia made her debut online in 2016, accompanied by a digital storybook, website and educational app, but her first episode launched this week.

"What brought this to light was really the incidence of autism here and the frequency," said Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's senior vice-president of U.S. social impact.

"So it was the right time, and doing it well ... is why it took us over five years of research to actually bring Julia to life."

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Julie Bascom, deputy executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network told 60 Minutes:  “In the show itself, it’s been really great to see her movements and her way of communication respected,

"Julia flaps and jumps when she’s happy."